Segment display-type liquid crystal display

ABSTRACT

A liquid crystal display includes first and second substrates placed opposite each other, a common electrode on one side of the first substrate to substantially cover a whole surface, a segment electrode on one side of the second substrate, a routing wire on one side of the second substrate and connected to the segment electrode, a liquid-crystalline resin film without electrical conductivity on one side of the second substrate, and a liquid crystal film between the substrates. The liquid-crystalline resin film has refractive index anisotropy being substantially equal to that of a liquid crystal material of the liquid crystal film, has molecular alignment being substantially equal to that of the liquid crystal film, and is disposed to fill a space between the routing wire and the common electrode. The liquid crystal film is disposed to fill a space between the segment electrode and the common electrode.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display (particularlyto a segment display-type liquid crystal display).

2. Description of the Related Art

With a general liquid crystal display, electrodes are provided on theupper and lower substrates respectively, and alignment films areprovided on the electrodes, respectively. In addition, the upper andlower substrates are superimposed so that the respective electrodes faceeach other. Here, in order to provide a liquid crystal film having apredetermined thickness (for instance, several μm) between the upper andlower substrates, a spherical spacer is disposed between the upper andlower substrates. Polarizers are attached to the outer sides of theupper and lower substrates, respectively. In this kind of liquid crystaldisplay, by applying voltage to the liquid crystal film by using therespective electrodes of the upper and lower substrates, the alignmentof the liquid crystal film of the display area, which is the portionthat both electrodes are superimposed, is changed in order to switch thebright display state and dark display state in terms of appearance.

With a vertical alignment liquid crystal display, since the retardationis substantially zero when the liquid crystal display is viewed from thefront during non-application of voltage, it is characterized in that anextremely favorable dark display state can be obtained by disposing therespective polarizers in a crossed Nicol arrangement. This verticalalignment liquid crystal display can also realize a normally blackdisplay with favorable visual angle characteristics duringnon-application of voltage by additionally disposing a visual anglecompensating plate between the liquid crystal film and at least one ofthe polarizers. Moreover, an STN (Super Twisted Nematic)-type liquidcrystal display in which the twist angle of the liquid crystal moleculesof the liquid crystal film between the upper and lower substrates is setto about 180° to 240° has a laminated structure provided with opticalcompensation cells, and is characterized in that a favorable darkdisplay state when the liquid crystal display is viewed from the frontcan be obtained by disposing the respective polarizers in a crossedNicol arrangement. The term “optical compensation cells” as used hereinrefers to the liquid crystal cells which basically have the samestructure as the foregoing STN-type liquid crystal display, and whichare disposed in a manner where the twisting direction of the liquidcrystal film is relatively opposite each other, and the alignmentdirection of the liquid crystal molecules at the substantial center ofthe liquid crystal film in the layer thickness direction is orthogonal.Note that the foregoing optical compensation cells may be substitutedwith a liquid-crystalline polymer film having similar opticalcharacteristics. Moreover, as one type of STN-type liquid crystaldisplay described above, also known is a film-compensated STN-typeliquid crystal display in which a retardation film having positiveuniaxial anisotropy is disposed between the liquid crystal film and therespective polarizers. A normally black display can be realized with anyof the STN-type liquid crystal displays described above.

Moreover, known is a segment display-type liquid crystal display capableof displaying a display pattern including a predetermined design ortext. This kind of segment display-type liquid crystal display comprisesan effective display area including a plurality of segment display areasfor displaying, for example, an arbitrary design or the like, and anexternal extraction electrode terminal area for electrically operatingthe respective display areas of the effective display area. The term“effective display area” as used herein refers to an area that isexposed without being covered when housing the liquid crystal display ina case of various devices, and which is viewable from the outside.

In order to realize the foregoing segment display-type liquid crystaldisplay, a segment electrode and a common electrode are provided to oneface of each of the upper and lower substrates, the upper and lowersubstrates are superimposed so that both electrodes face each other, andthe area where both electrodes overlap form be a predetermined displaypattern. Here, the portion where the segment electrode and the commonelectrode do not overlap is referred to as a “routing wire”, andfunctions as a wire for connecting the portion to be used for display tothe external extraction electrode. The layout of this kind of routingwire needs to be designed so that the routing wire is arranged on onlyeither one of the upper or lower substrate. This is because, when therouting wires overlap, change in the alignment of the liquid crystalfilm in such overlapping area, which is normally not required, willoccur, and cause a display defect. A previous example of this kind ofliquid crystal display is disclosed, for example, in JP-A-2006-309117(Patent Document 1).

With a conventional liquid crystal display, as the respective upper andlower substrates, for instance, a glass substrate having a thickness ofabout 0.3 to 1.1 mm has been often used. This is because a glasssubstrate has a high glass transition point of 500° C. or higher, hassuperior resistance against various chemicals, has relatively superiorworkability and, therefore, a glass substrate can broaden the options ofvarious chemicals to be used in high-temperature processes of 150° C. orhigher and electrode patterning, and can be handled favorably.Meanwhile, a liquid crystal display is also provided which uses aflexible plastic substrate or film substrate. This kind of liquidcrystal display is advantageous in that it is possible to realize alighter weight and a thinner profile in comparison to a liquid crystaldisplay using a glass substrate, and is also advantageous in that it isflexible and superior in shock resistance. Thus, it is possible torelatively easily realize a shockproof display device or a curveddisplay device that is difficult to be realized when a glass substrateis used.

Nevertheless, since the photolithography technique is often used for thepatterning of the segment electrode and the common electrode on theupper and lower substrates, this includes numerous processes thatconsiderably damage the substrate; for instance, heating and cooling ofthe substrate, irradiation of ultraviolet rays, and exposure to acidchemicals and alkali chemicals. When using the foregoing plasticsubstrate or film substrate, these substrates need to comprisehigh-temperature process resistance, chemical resistance and handlingperformance that are equivalent to a glass substrate. Nevertheless,options of such a plastic substrate and the like that satisfy all of theforegoing conditions are limited, and also disadvantageous in terms ofcost. In addition, since a substrate is disposed between two polarizerson application to a liquid crystal display, the phase difference in thesubstrate surface needs to be substantially zero, and the options areeven more limited. Thus, simplification of the common electrode isdesired so that the patterning of the common electrode can be omitted,or reduced as much as possible. Nevertheless, if simplification ofcausing the entire surface of the substrate to be the common electrodeis performed, as described above, change in the alignment of the liquidcrystal film will occur in the overlapping area of the routing wireconnected to the segment electrode, and the common electrode, the changein the alignment being normally not required, thereby causing a displaydefect.

With any of various kinds of liquid crystal displays described above, onthe other hand, in order to maintain the gap of the upper and lowersubstrates and cause the liquid crystal film to have a uniform layerthickness, a spherical spacer is disposed between the upper and lowersubstrates. This kind of spherical spacer is equally and randomlydispersed, in the manufacturing process of a liquid crystal display, onone of the substrates via the dry spraying method which is described,for example, in JP-A-2001-21899 (Patent Document 2). Nevertheless, withthe foregoing method, since the spacer is randomly disposed on one ofthe substrates, the spacer may be in the display area. The spacer thatis in the display area as described above will induce the non-uniformityof the alignment in the liquid crystal film during non-application ofvoltage or during voltage application, and may cause a drop in thedisplay quality of the liquid crystal display.

Meanwhile, proposed is a liquid crystal display element having astructure of maintaining the gap of the upper and lower substrates byusing a columnar spacer made from photosensitive resin in substitute forthe spherical spacer. With a liquid crystal display having the foregoingstructure, since a spacer can be intentionally disposed at a positionwhere an alignment defect will not occur in the display area, it ispossible to prevent the drop in the display quality duringnon-application of voltage or during voltage application. This kind ofcolumnar spacer is mainly used in a dot matrix-type liquid crystaldisplay in which rectangular pixels are formed in a matrix. In thiscase, a structure where the columnar spacer is disposed below the blackmask, which is disposed outside of the effective pixels, and thecolumnar spacer is not disposed in the effective pixels, would be wellknown.

Meanwhile, the spherical spacer or columnar spacer that is generallyused in a liquid crystal display as described above is formed using amaterial having optical isotropy, unlike a liquid crystal materialhaving optical anisotropy. Accordingly, since the retardation betweenthe liquid crystal film and the compensating plate cannot be canceledout unless a light-shield film is disposed on at least one of thesubstrates in an area where the spacer is disposed, leakage of lightwill occur in the area where the spacer is disposed when the liquidcrystal display is viewed from the front or viewed from an obliquedirection, and cause a drop in the display quality of the liquid crystaldisplay. Note that, while it is relatively easy to provide alight-shield film in correspondence to a columnar spacer in which thepositional arrangement thereof is predetermined, it is difficult toprovide a light-shield film in a case of a spherical spacer that israndomly disposed on the substrate surface via the dry spraying methodor the like, in accordance with the position thereof. Meanwhile, it isalso possible to consider providing light shielding performance to thecolumnar spacer itself. Specifically, for instance, considered may beforming the columnar spacer using photosensitive resin with carbonparticles dispersed therein. Nevertheless, with this type ofphotosensitive resin, since the photosensitivity and patterningperformance tend to deteriorate as a result of increasing the filmthickness, it is difficult to obtain a columnar space with sufficientlight shielding performance if the film thickness is made to be thickerthan 2 μm under the existing conditions. Moreover, since the number ofprocesses will increase as a result of forming a light-shield film, alight-shield film is not being positively used in a black-and-whiteliquid crystal display, which does not use a color filter, since it willincrease costs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One object of a specific mode of the present invention is to provide aliquid crystal display capable of avoiding display defects that mayarise when simplifying the common electrode.

A liquid crystal display according to an aspect of the present inventionincludes: (a) a first substrate and a second substrate placed oppositeeach other; (b) a common electrode provided on one face side of thefirst substrate so as to substantially cover a whole surface; (c) asegment electrode provided to one face side of the second substrate; (d)a routing wire provided to one face side of the second substrate andconnected to the segment electrode; (e) a liquid-crystalline resin filmwithout electrical conductivity provided to one face side of the secondsubstrate; and (f) a liquid crystal film provided between the firstsubstrate and the second substrate, (g) wherein the liquid-crystallineresin film has refractive index anisotropy which is substantially equalto refractive index anisotropy of a liquid crystal material of theliquid crystal film, its molecular alignment is substantially equal tomolecular alignment of the liquid crystal film, and theliquid-crystalline resin film is disposed in a manner of filling atleast a space between the routing wire and the common electrode, and (h)wherein the liquid crystal film is disposed in a manner of filling atleast a space between the segment electrode and the common electrode.

A liquid crystal display according to another aspect of the presentinvention includes: (a) a first substrate and a second substrate placedopposite each other; (b) a common electrode provided on one face side ofthe first substrate so as to substantially cover a whole surface; (c) asegment electrode provided to one face side of the second substrate; (d)a routing wire provided to one face side of the second substrate andconnected to the segment electrode; (e) a liquid-crystalline resin filmwithout electrical conductivity provided to one face side of the secondsubstrate; and (f) a translucent resin film configured from an opticallyisotropic transparent resin, and disposed between the second substrateand the liquid-crystalline resin film; and (g) a liquid crystal filmprovided between the first substrate and the second substrate, (h)wherein the liquid-crystalline resin film has refractive indexanisotropy which is substantially equal to refractive index anisotropyof a liquid crystal material of the liquid crystal film, its molecularalignment is substantially equal to that of the liquid crystal film, anddisposed in a manner of filling at least a space between the routingwire and the common electrode, and (i) wherein the liquid crystal filmis disposed in a manner of filling at least a space between the segmentelectrode and the common electrode.

In any one of the liquid crystal displays described above, it ispossible to considerably simplify, or omit, the patterning process ofthe common electrode by providing the common electrode on one face sideof the first substrate so as to substantially cover a whole surface. Itis thereby possible to use, for example, a plastic substrate or a filmsubstrate as the first substrate. Here, by interposing a non-conductiveliquid-crystalline resin film at least between the routing wire and thecommon electrode, it is possible to electrically isolate this area, andcause the optical property of this area to be equal or close to theoptical property of the liquid crystal film. Moreover, when there is adifference in the refractive index anisotropy between theliquid-crystalline resin film and the liquid crystal film, by using atranslucent resin film and causing the thickness of the two to differ,the retardation can be made to be substantially the same. Accordingly,it is possible to avoid a display defect from arising in the overlappingarea of the routing wire and the common electrode.

In the liquid crystal display described above, the liquid-crystallineresin film is preferably disposed in a manner of filling a space betweena part where neither the segment electrode nor the routing wire isprovided on one face side of the second substrate, and the commonelectrode.

It is thereby possible to cause the external appearance of the areawhere the segment electrode and the routing wire do not exist to besubstantially equivalent to the external appearance of the area wherethe routing wire and the common electrode are superimposed.

Preferably, the liquid crystal display described above further includesa dummy electrode complementarily disposed, on one face side of thesecond substrate, to an area other than an area where the segmentelectrode and the routing wire are disposed.

It is thereby possible to substantially cover the entire one face sideof the second substrate with the conductive film. In General, since aliquid-crystalline resin film tends to have stronger adhesion to aconductive film such as ITO (indium tin oxide) than to a substratesurface of a glass substrate or the like, adhesion between theliquid-crystalline resin film and the second substrate can be furtherimproved.

In the liquid crystal display described above, the common electrode maybe divided into a plurality of portions, and substantially fully coversone face of the first substrate by combining the plurality of dividedportions.

It is thereby possible to be driven by multiplex driving.

In the liquid crystal display described above, the first substrate ispreferably a plastic substrate or a film substrate.

As described above, since the processing of the common electrode can bereduced as much as possible, a substrate made from a material, whichlacked high-temperature process resistance and chemical resistance inconventional technology, can be used as the first substrate. Inaddition, it is possible to easily realize a flexible liquid crystaldisplay.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view schematically showing the configuration of aliquid crystal display according to one embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a cross section schematically showing the configuration of theliquid crystal display according to a first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a structural example of segment electrodescorresponding to display pattern shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a structural example of common electrodecorresponding to the segment electrodes shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a structural example of aliquid-crystalline resin film;

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a structural example of a dummy electrode;

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing another structural example of the segmentelectrodes corresponding to the display pattern shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a structural example of the commonelectrode corresponding to the segment electrodes shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing another structural example of theliquid-crystalline resin film;

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing another structural example of theliquid-crystalline resin film; and

FIG. 11 is a cross section schematically showing the configuration ofthe liquid crystal display according to the second embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention are now explained with reference tothe accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a plan view schematically showing a configuration of a liquidcrystal display according to one embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, theliquid crystal display of this embodiment is a segment display-typeliquid crystal display for realizing a clock display, and comprises aplurality of segment display areas 3 within an effective display area 4indicated with a dotted line. The term “effective display area” as usedherein can be defined as an area that is exposed without being coveredby a housing of the device when implementing the liquid crystal displayinto any of various devices. Moreover, the liquid crystal display isprovided with an external extraction electrode terminal area 2 forcontrolling the bright/dark display state of the segment display areas3. The external extraction electrode terminal area 2 protrudes from thefront-side substrate.

FIG. 2 is a cross section schematically showing the configuration of theliquid crystal display according to a first embodiment. The crosssection shown in FIG. 2 corresponds to the cross section in the A-B linedirection shown in FIG. 1 (same with FIG. 11 described later). Theliquid crystal display of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2 mainlycomprises a first substrate 11 and a second substrate 12 placed oppositeeach other, and a liquid crystal film 20 disposed between the twosubstrates. A first polarizer 31 is disposed on the outer side of thefirst substrate 11, a second polarizer 32 is disposed on the outer sideof the second substrate 12, and a visual angle compensating plate 33 isdisposed between the second substrate 12 and the second polarizer 32.The periphery of the liquid crystal film 20 is sealed with a seal member(not shown).

The first substrate 11 and the second substrate 12 are respectively, forexample, transparent substrates such as glass substrates, plasticsubstrates, or film substrates. The gap between the first substrate 11and the second substrate 12 is maintained at a predetermined distance(for instance, about several μm).

The common electrode 13 is provided on one face of the first substrate11. Moreover, the segment electrode 14 and the routing wire 19 areprovided on one face of the second substrate 12. Each of the commonelectrode 13, the segment electrode 14 and the routing wire 19 isconfigured, for example, by suitably patterning a transparent conductivefilm made of ITO (indium tin oxide) or the like. In this example, thearea where the common electrode 13 and the segment electrode 14 faceeach other corresponds to the segment display area 3, and the area wherethe common electrode 13 and the routing wire 19 face each othercorresponding to the wire part 5. The common electrode 13 is provided onone face side of the first substrate 11 so as to substantially cover awhole surface. The segment electrode 14 and the routing wire 19 arepatterned in a shape according to the display pattern on one face of thesecond substrate 12.

An alignment film 15 is provided, on one face side of the firstsubstrate 11, so as to cover the common electrode 13. Similarly, analignment film 16 is provided, on one face side of the second substrate12, so as to cover the segment electrode 14 and the routing wire 19. Inthis embodiment, as the alignment film 15 and the alignment film 16,used are films (vertical alignment films) which restrict the alignmentof the liquid crystal film 20 during the initial state (duringnon-application of voltage) to a vertical alignment. Each of thealignment films 15, 16 has been subject to an alignment process such asa rubbing process, and each of the alignment films 15, 16 provides apretilt angle that is close to 90° relative to the liquid crystalmolecules of the liquid crystal film 20.

A liquid-crystalline resin film 17 is provided on the alignment film 16of the second substrate 12, and disposed between the first substrate 11and the second substrate 12. The liquid-crystalline resin film 17 isformed using liquid-crystalline photosensitive resin. Preferably, withthe liquid-crystalline resin film 17, the refractive index anisotropy ofits formation material is substantially equivalent to the refractiveindex anisotropy of the liquid crystal material used in the liquidcrystal film 20, and it is also preferably non-conductive. Theliquid-crystalline resin film 17 has an alignment that is substantiallyequal to the alignment of the liquid crystal film 20. This kind ofmolecular alignment can be realized by using the restraining force ofalignment of the alignment film 16 provided on the second substrate 12when forming the liquid-crystalline resin film 17. Specifically, theliquid-crystalline resin film 17 is pattern-formed by applying apredetermined material solution on the alignment film 16 of the secondsubstrate 12, exposing ultraviolet rays in a state of beingsubstantially adhered to a photomask, which was patterned with alight-shield film so that only a predetermined area is exposed,thereafter performing development with an alkali aqueous solution, andperforming calcination. In these processes, as a result of apredetermined material solution being applied on the alignment film 16,the alignment is subject to the restraining force of alignment of thealignment film 16. As shown in the diagram, the liquid-crystalline resinfilm 17 has a cross section shape of a tapered shape which is gettingthinner toward the first substrate 11 side, and is tightly disposed soas to fill the space between the common electrode 13 and the routingwire 19.

The liquid crystal film 20 is provided between the first substrate 11and the second substrate 12. More specifically, the liquid crystal film20 is disposed between the first substrate 11 and the second substrate12 so as to fill at least the space between the common electrode 13 andthe segment electrode 14. The liquid crystal film 20 is configured, forexample, by using a liquid crystal composition obtained by using aliquid crystal material (nematic liquid crystal material) in which itsdielectric constant anisotropy Δ∈ is negative (Δ∈<0), and alignment iscontrolled to be a vertical alignment of a mono domain.

The first polarizer 31 and the second polarizer 32 are disposed, forexample, so that their mutual absorption axes are substantiallyorthogonal. Moreover, the first polarizer 31 and the second polarizer 32are disposed so that the absorption axis of one is disposed 45° in aclockwise direction relative to the horizontal direction of theeffective display area 4, and the absorption axis of the other isdisposed 45° in the counterclockwise direction. The visual anglecompensating plate 33 is, for example, an optical plate having negativebiaxial optical anisotropy, and disposed between the second substrate 12and the second polarizer 32. Note that the visual angle compensatingplate 33 may also be disposed between the first substrate 11 and thefirst polarizer 31. Moreover, a visual angle compensating plate may bedisposed between the first substrate 11 and the first polarizer 31, andbetween the second substrate 12 and the second polarizer 32. Since theliquid-crystalline resin film 17 is prepared for the liquid crystaldisplay of this embodiment, preferably, the arrangement area of theliquid-crystalline resin film 17 is visible in terms of appearance sothat the visibility is equivalent to the arrangement area of the liquidcrystal film 20. Accordingly, the normally black mode in which thetransmittance of the liquid crystal display is extremely low duringnon-application of voltage is the most suitable. Thus, in thisembodiment, the molecular alignment of the liquid crystal film 20 iscaused to be a vertical alignment or a substantially vertical alignment,and the absorption axes of the first polarizer 31 and the secondpolarizer 32 are disposed to be substantially orthogonal.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a structural example of the segmentelectrodes corresponding to the display pattern shown in FIG. 1. In thisdiagram, shown is an example of the segment electrodes when assuming acase of driving the liquid crystal display by static driving. As shownin the diagram, a segment electrode external extraction terminal 40 anda common electrode external extraction terminal 41 are provided to theend part of the substrate surface. In addition, provided within thesubstrate surface are segment electrode routing wires 43 for connectingthe segment electrode external extraction terminals 40 and the segmentelectrodes, and an inter-substrate conductive pad part 42 connected tothe common electrode external extraction terminal 41.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a structural example of the commonelectrode corresponding to the segment electrodes shown in FIG. 3. Asshown in the diagram, the common electrode 46 of this embodiment isprovided so as to cover substantially the entire substrate surface.Specifically, the common electrode 46 is provided to cover at least theentire effective display area 4. This common electrode 46 is energizedvia a conductive material such as a seal member or silver paste, withconductive particles mixed therein, at the foregoing inter-substrateconductive pad part 42, thereby connected to the common electrodeexternal extraction electrode 41.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a structural example of theliquid-crystalline resin film. As shown in the diagram, theliquid-crystalline resin film 17 is disposed, in the effective displayarea 4, so as to fill at least the space between the common electrode 13and the routing wire 19. In the illustrated example, theliquid-crystalline resin film 17 is provided in a manner of covering theoverlapping area of the common electrode 13 and the segment electroderouting wires 43, and covering substantially the entire area whereneither the segment electrode nor the segment electrode routing wires 43exist and where the common electrode 13 exists. Note that, in the areawhere only the common electrode 13 exists, it is also possible tosimultaneously form a columnar spacer which functions as a spacer forretaining the interval between the first substrate 11 and the secondsubstrate 12 with the foregoing formation of the liquid-crystallineresin film 17. The columnar spacer in the foregoing case has a taperedcross section shape, has a substantially rectangular shape, asubstantially rhomboid shape, or a substantially circular shape in aplan view, and, for example, is disposed regularly in the substratesurface.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a structural example of a dummy electrode.In general, the liquid-crystalline resin film 17 has greater adhesion tothe electrode surface in comparison to the substrate surface.Accordingly, it is also preferable to provide a dummy electrode 47 to acomplementary arrangement area relative to the arrangement area of thesegment electrodes 14 and the segment electrode routing wires 43 shownin FIG. 3. The dummy electrode 47 is provided being physically separatedfrom the segment electrode 14 and the segment electrode routing wires 43in a predetermined interval. The dummy electrode 47 may be a floatingelectrode that does not provide an external terminal, or energized viathe common electrode 13 and the conductive particles and cause the twoto be the same potential. As a result of providing this kind of dummyelectrode 47, in addition to being able to improve the adhesion of theliquid-crystalline resin film 17 to the substrate, it is also possibleto improve the uniformity of the liquid crystal film thickness.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing another structural example of the segmentelectrodes corresponding to the display pattern shown in FIG. 1. In thediagram, shown is an example of segment electrodes when assuming a caseof driving the liquid crystal display by multiplex driving of ½ duty. Asshown in the diagram, a segment electrode external extraction terminal40 and common electrode external extraction terminals 44, 45 areprovided to the end part of the substrate surface. In addition, providedwithin the substrate surface are segment electrode routing wires 43 forconnecting the segment electrode external extraction terminal 40 and thesegment electrodes, and an inter-substrate conductive pad parts 42connected to the common electrode external extraction terminals 44, 45.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a structural example of the commonelectrode corresponding to the segment electrodes shown in FIG. 7. Asshown in the diagram, the common electrode of this embodiment isconfigured from two partial electrodes 46 a, 46 b that are separated viaa regular interval, and provided so that the combination thereofsubstantially fully covers one face of the second substrate 12.Specifically, the two partial electrodes 46 a, 46 b as the commonelectrode are provided so that the combination thereof will cover atleast the entire effective display area 4. These partial electrodes 46a, 46 b are energized via a conductive material such as a seal member ofsilver paste, with conductive particles mixed therein, at the foregoinginter-substrate conductive pad part 42, and thereby connected to thecommon electrode external extraction terminals 44, 45.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing another structural example of theliquid-crystalline resin film. Here, the liquid-crystalline resin film17 is provided so as to cover the boundary region which divides bothpartial electrodes 46 a, 46 b as the common electrode. Note that,similar to the above, in an area where only the common electrode exists,a columnar space which functions as a space for retaining the gapbetween the first substrate 11 and the second substrate 12 may beprovided.

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing another structural example of theliquid-crystalline resin film. As shown in FIG. 10, it is not necessaryto provide a liquid-crystalline resin film 17 in the boundary regionwhich divides both partial electrodes 46 a, 46 b as the commonelectrode. When comparing this arrangement pattern and the arrangementpattern shown in FIG. 9, there is a thin area of the boundary regionwhich separates the two partial electrodes 46 a, 46 b in the arrangementpattern of FIG. 9. Thus, when an inlet for vacuum injection is disposedat a part of the right side end of a liquid crystal display element,there is concern that the injection speed of the liquid crystal materialwill be slower due to the increased bulkhead during the injection.Meanwhile, with the arrangement pattern shown in FIG. 10, since the thinarea is eliminated and a bulkhead does not exist, the injection speed ofthe liquid crystal material can be further increased.

FIG. 11 is a cross section schematically showing a configuration of theliquid crystal display according to the second embodiment. The liquidcrystal display of the second embodiment has a structure that issuitable when the refractive index anisotropy Δn1 of the constituentmaterial of the liquid-crystalline resin film 17 is greater than therefractive index anisotropy Δn2 of the liquid crystal material of theliquid crystal film 20. Note that the same reference numerals are givento constituent elements that are common with the liquid crystal displayof the first embodiment (refer to FIG. 2), and the detailed explanationthereof is omitted. The liquid crystal display of the second embodimentmainly differs from the foregoing liquid crystal display of the firstembodiment with respect to the point that a translucent resin film 18 isprovided on the second substrate 12 in correspondence with theliquid-crystalline resin film 17.

The translucent resin film 18 is provided, on one face side of thesecond substrate 12, on the upper side of the liquid-crystalline resinfilm 17 by being formed in a pattern of substantially the same shape asthe liquid-crystalline resin film 17 (refer to FIG. 5, FIG. 9 and FIG.10). The translucent resin film 18 is formed by using opticallyisotropic transparent resin. In addition, the alignment film 16 isformed on one face side of the second substrate 12 so as to cover thesegment electrode 14, the routing wire 19 and the translucent resin film18.

As a result of providing the translucent resin film 18 in correspondencewith the liquid-crystalline resin film 17 as described above, thethickness d2 of the liquid crystal film 20 in the area where thetranslucent resin film 18 does not exist and the thickness d1 of theliquid-crystalline resin film 17 can be caused to differ. In otherwords, when the refractive index anisotropy of the liquid-crystallineresin film 17 is Δn1 and the refractive index anisotropy of the liquidcrystal material of the liquid crystal film 20 is Δn2, and Δn1>Δn2, therelation of the thickness d1 of the liquid-crystalline resin film 17 andthe thickness d2of the liquid crystal film 20 is suitably adjusted sothat the retardations Δn1d1 and Δn2d2 in the respective areas willbecome substantially equal.

According to this embodiment described above, it is possible toconsiderably simplify, or omit, the patterning process of the commonelectrode by providing the common electrode on one face side of thefirst substrate so as to substantially cover a whole surface. It isthereby possible to use, for example, a plastic substrate or a filmsubstrate as the first substrate. Here, by interposing a non-conductiveliquid-crystalline resin film (a liquid-crystalline resin film withoutelectrical conductivity) at least between the routing wire and thecommon electrode, it is possible to electrically isolate this area, andprevent the formation of a liquid crystal film in this area.Accordingly, it is possible to avoid a display defect from arising inthe overlapping area of the routing wire and the common electrode, andcause the external appearance of this area to be substantiallyequivalent to the external appearance of the area where the liquidcrystal film exists.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the subject matter ofthe embodiments explained above, and may be variously modified andworked within the scope of the gist of the present invention. Forexample, while both the upper substrate and the lower substrate aretranslucent in the foregoing embodiments, so as long as one substrate istranslucent, the other substrate may be a substrate that is nottranslucent. For example, a metal film may be formed on the glasssubstrate, or a metal thin plate that is flexible but not translucent(for instance, a stainless plate or aluminum foil) may also be used.Moreover, when using a metal thin plate as the substrate, in a casewhere a static drive in which the common electrode is common across theentire surface is adopted, the formation of the electrode on thesubstrate can be omitted by using the substrate itself as the electrode.

(Example 1)

An example of a liquid crystal display in which the upper and lowersubstrates are glass substrates is now explained.

Prepared was a substrate having a sheet resistance of 30 Ω/sq. obtainedby one face of a blue plate glass with a thickness of 0.7 mm beingpolished and subject to a SiO₂ undercoat, and a transparent conductivefilm made of ITO (indium tin oxide) thereafter being deposited on theentire face of the substrate surface. Segment electrodes and routingwires were formed on one face of the substrate by patterning thetransparent conductive film via the photolithography process and the wetetching process.

A vertical alignment film with surface free energy of 35 to 39 mN/m waspattern-printed on this substrate (hereinafter referred to as the “lowersubstrate”) within the seal frame via the flexographic printing method,tentative calcination was performed at 90° C. for 15 minutes, then maincalcination was performed at 180° C. for 30 minutes. Subsequently, bothsubstrates were subject to the rubbing process based on the conditionsof pushing depth of 0.6 mm, rubbing speed of 75 mm/sec, and rollerrotation of 1000 rpm by using a roller in which cotton rubbing clothshaving a thickness of approximately 3 mm were attached together.

Subsequently, a solution containing photosensitive resin havingrefractive index anisotropy of approximately 0.1 and which shows liquidcrystallinity was applied on the lower substrate with a spinner, thiswas pre-baked at 60° C. for 120 seconds, and 1000 mJ of ultraviolet raysbased on a high pressure mercury lamp light source was exposed using acontact exposure machine via a photomask of an intended pattern. Afterexposure, immersion development was performed using a TMAH(tetramethylammonium hydroxide) 0.1% aqueous solution, the substitutionof the developing solution and the purified water was performed byrinsing with purified water, the lower substrate was dried, and it wascalcined in a 240° C. oven for 20 minutes. Note that the photomask wasprovided with a rhomboid pattern in which one side thereof is 20 μm, asthe light-shielding pattern in which spacers will be disposed, in 100 μmintervals respectively on the left, right, top and bottom of at leastthe entire face of the area where the common electrode and the routingwires on the lower substrate overlap, and the remaining area within theseal frame. Note that the film thickness of the resin film wasapproximately 3.3 μm based on the measurement results of the stylusprofile meter.

The production process of the lower substrate (segment substrate) was asdescribed above. Meanwhile, the upper substrate (common substrate) wasobtained as follows; namely, prepared was a substrate having a sheetresistance of 30 Ω/sq. similarly obtained by one face of a blue plateglass with a thickness of 0.7 mm being polished and subject to a SiO₂undercoat, and a transparent conductive film made of ITO (indium tinoxide) thereafter being deposited on the entire face of the substratesurface, and no processing other than cleaning was performed. In otherwords, the prepared upper substrate is a substrate in which a commonelectrode made from a transparent conductive film is formed on theentire substrate surface. A pattern was formed on the upper substrate sothat a vertical alignment film is printed only within the seal frame,and the rubbing process was performed based on the same conditions ofthe lower substrate described above.

Subsequently, a seal member containing 2 wt % of silica particles with aparticle size of 3.2 μm was applied on the lower substrate with adispenser in a frame shape that is 1 mm smaller than the outer frame ofthe in-plane area where the upper substrate and the lower substrateoverlap. However, the seal member applied to the conductive pad partprovided to the lower substrate was provided with 2 wt % of gold-coatedplastic particles with a particle size of 3.5 μm in addition to theforegoing silica particles. Moreover, an inlet for vacuum injection asdisposed at a part of the right side end of the liquid crystal display.Subsequently, the upper substrate and the lower substrate wererespectively attached by positioning the end faces of both substrates,and this was calcined at 150° C. for 60 minutes in a state of beingpressed at constant pressure.

Subsequently, a liquid crystal material in which Δ∈<0 and Δn isapproximately 0.1 was injected from the foregoing inlet into the gapbetween the upper substrate and the lower substrate via vacuuminjection, the inlet was sealed with ultraviolet curable resin, andcalcination was thereafter performed at 120° C. for 60 minutes.Subsequently, the substrate end face of the external extractionelectrode terminal area of the lower substrate was chamfered, and theaggregation (liquid crystal cells) of the lower substrate and the uppersubstrate was washed with a neutral detergent, and then dried.

Subsequently, a polarizer which is integrally formed with a visual anglecompensating plate of negative biaxial optical anisotropy having anin-plane phase difference of 55 nm and thickness direction phasedifference of 220 nm was attached to the outer side of the lowersubstrate, and a polarizer was attached to the outer side of the uppersubstrate. Finally, a lead frame was mounted on the external extractionelectrode terminal area, and connected to a drive circuit to completethe liquid crystal display.

When confirming the operation of the liquid crystal display of Example 1during the viewing of the liquid crystal display from the front, it waspossible to confirm that the display pattern shown in FIG. 1 wasobtained. Moreover, areas other than the display area showed a favorabledark display state during the viewing of the liquid crystal display fromthe front, and no defect such as the visual recognition of a boundaryline between the area where the liquid crystal film exists and the areawhere the liquid-crystalline resin film exists could be confirmed.Moreover, also during the observation of the liquid crystal display ofExample 1 from an oblique direction, it was possible to confirm that theleakage of light in the area where the liquid crystal film exists andthe area where the liquid-crystalline resin film exists is basically ofthe same level, and visual angle characteristics having a favorable darkdisplay state had been realized.

(Example 2)

An example of a liquid crystal display in which a film substrate is usedas the upper substrate, and a glass substrate is used as the lowersubstrate is now explained.

An ITO transparent conductive film was deposited, in a thickness of 200nm, on a white plate glass with a thickness of 0.3 mm by using anin-line sputtering device, and segment electrodes and routing wires wereformed on one face of the substrate by patterning the transparentconductive film via the photolithography process and the wet etchingprocess.

A vertical alignment film with surface free energy of 35 to 39 mN/m waspattern-printed on this substrate (hereinafter referred to as the “lowersubstrate”) within the seal frame via the flexographic printing method,tentative calcination was performed at 90° C. for 15 minutes, then maincalcination was performed at 180° C. for 30 minutes. Subsequently, bothsubstrates were subject to the rubbing process based on the conditionsof pushing depth of 0.6 mm, rubbing speed of 75 mm/sec, and rollerrotation of 1000 rpm by using a roller in which cotton rubbing clothshaving a thickness of approximately 3 mm were attached together.

Subsequently, a solution containing photosensitive resin havingrefractive index anisotropy of approximately 0.1 and which shows liquidcrystallinity was applied on the lower substrate with a spinner, thiswas pre-baked at 60° C. for 120 seconds, and 1000 mJ of ultraviolet raysbased on a high pressure mercury lamp light source was exposed using acontact exposure machine via a photomask of an intended pattern. Afterexposure, immersion development was performed using a TMAH(tetramethylammonium hydroxide) 0.1% aqueous solution, rinsed withpurified water to achieve the substitution of the developing solutionand the purified water, the lower substrate was dried, and calcined in a240° C. oven for 20 minutes. Note that the photomask was provided with arhomboid pattern in which one side thereof is 20 μm, as thelight-shielding pattern in which spacers will be disposed, in 100 μmintervals respectively on the left, right, top and bottom of at leastthe entire face of the area where the common electrode and the routingwire on the lower substrate overlap, and the remaining area within theseal frame. Note that the film thickness of the resin film wasapproximately 3.3 μm based on the measurement results of the stylusprofile meter.

The production process of the lower substrate (segment substrate) was asdescribed above. Meanwhile, as the upper substrate, used was a filmsubstrate with a thickness of about 120 μm obtained by deposing atransparent conductive film having a sheet resistance of 30 Ω/sq. on thesurface of a polycarbonate film with an extremely low in-plane phasedifference. A horizontal alignment film was formed on the uppersubstrate based on the same conditions of the lower substrate describedabove.

Subsequently, a seal member containing 2 wt % of silica particles with aparticle size of 3.2 μm was applied on the lower substrate with adispenser in a frame shape that is 1 mm smaller than the outer frame ofthe in-plane area where the upper substrate and the lower substrateoverlap. However, the seal member applied to the conductive pad partprovided to the lower substrate was provided with 2 wt % of gold-coatedplastic particles with a particle size of 3.5 μm in addition to theforegoing silica particles. Moreover, an inlet for vacuum injection asdisposed at a part of the right side end of the liquid crystal display.Subsequently, the upper substrate and the lower substrate wererespectively attached by positioning the end faces of both substrates,and this was calcined at 150° C. for 60 minutes in a state of beingpressed at constant pressure. Here, in order to uniformly press theupper substrate and the lower substrate, a dummy glass substrate havingthe same size and made from the same material as the lower substrate wasdisposed on the outer side of the film on the upper substrate side usingthe film substrate.

Subsequently, a liquid crystal material in which Δ∈<0 and Δn isapproximately 0.1 was injected from the foregoing inlet into the gapbetween the upper substrate and the lower substrate via vacuuminjection, the inlet was sealed with ultraviolet curable resin, andcalcination was thereafter performed at 120° C. for 60 minutes.Subsequently, the substrate end face of the external extractionelectrode terminal area of the lower substrate was chamfered, and theaggregation (liquid crystal cells) of the lower substrate and the uppersubstrate was washed with a neutral detergent, and then dried.

Subsequently, a polarizer which is integrally formed with a visual anglecompensating plate of negative biaxial optical anisotropy having anin-plane phase difference of 55 nm and thickness direction phasedifference of 220 nm was attached to the outer side of the lowersubstrate, and a polarizer was attached to the outer side of the uppersubstrate. Finally, a lead frame was mounted on the external extractionelectrode terminal area, and connected to a drive circuit to completethe liquid crystal display.

When confirming the operation of the liquid crystal display of Example 2during the viewing of the liquid crystal display from the front, it waspossible to confirm that a favorable display state similar to theforegoing liquid crystal display of Example 1 was obtained. Moreover,the liquid crystal display of Example 2 is flexible, and could beretained in a curved state having a curvature radius of about 300 mm.

Note that, in order to realize multiplex driving of ½ duty or more, itis necessary to perform patterning so that the spacing between therespective scanning lines becomes a fixed interval as shown in FIG. 8.In the foregoing case, while the processing may be performed based onthe foregoing conventional photolithography process and etching process,since the area of the conductive film to be removed is small, themanufacturing process can be shortened by adopting the laser etchingmethod. The laser etching method is the etching method of evaporatingthe transparent conductive film based on laser beam irradiation anddirectly performing the patterning process. This method is particularlyeffective in a case of using a film substrate as shown in Example 2, andthe options of the film material can be broadened since materials withweak resistance against acid chemicals such as hydrochloric acid,sulfuric acid, and ferric chloride used in the wet etching process canalso be used as the material. As the film material, since a materialcapable of reducing the in-plane phase difference and a material whichenables the deposition of a transparent electrode is effective, inaddition to the polycarbonate used in Example 2, triacetylcellulose,norbornene-based cyclic olefin or polyether sulfone, transparentpolyimide and the like with a high glass transition point may also beused.

What is claimed is:
 1. A segment-type liquid crystal display, comprising: a first substrate and a second substrate placed opposite each other in a stacking direction; a common electrode provided on one face side of the first substrate so as to substantially cover a whole surface; a first alignment film provided on said one face side of the first substrate so as to cover the common electrode; a segment electrode provided on one face side of the second substrate, wherein the segment electrode defines a display pattern; a routing wire provided on said one face side of the second substrate and connected to the segment electrode, wherein the routing wire extends from the segment electrode to a segment electrode external extraction terminal; a second alignment film provided on said one face side of the second substrate so as to cover the segment electrode and the routing wire; a non-conductive liquid-crystalline resin film without electrical conductivity provided on said one face side of the second substrate; and a liquid crystal film provided between the first substrate and the second substrate, wherein the non-conductive liquid-crystalline resin film has a refractive index anisotropy which is substantially equal to a refractive index anisotropy of a liquid crystal material of the liquid crystal film, a molecular alignment of the liquid-crystalline resin film is substantially equal to a molecular alignment of the liquid crystal film, and the liquid-crystalline resin film is disposed in a manner of filling at least a space between the routing wire and the common electrode in the stacking direction, wherein the liquid crystal film is disposed in a manner of filling at least a space between the segment electrode and the common electrode in the stacking direction, wherein the common electrode, the segment electrode, the routing wire, the liquid crystal film, and the non-conductive liquid-crystalline resin film are disposed in an effective display area of the segment-type liquid crystal display device, wherein a first area of the effective display area where the segment electrode and the common electrode overlap in the stacking direction with the liquid crystal film interposed therebetween is a display-state changeable region which is switchable between a first display state and a second display state in accordance with a voltage applied thereto which changes the alignment of the liquid crystal film, and wherein a second area of the effective display area where the routing wire and the common electrode overlap in the stacking direction with the non-conductive liquid-crystalline resin film interposed therebetween is a display-state unchangeable region having a display state which is unchangeable in response to a voltage applied thereto.
 2. The liquid crystal display according to claim 1, wherein the liquid-crystalline resin film is disposed in a manner of filling a space between a part where neither the segment electrode nor the routing wire is provided on said one face side of the second substrate, and the common electrode.
 3. The liquid crystal display according to claim 1, further comprising a dummy electrode complementarily disposed, on said one face side of the second substrate, in an area other than an area where the segment electrode and the routing wire are disposed.
 4. The liquid crystal display according to claim 1, wherein the common electrode is divided into a plurality of portions, and substantially fully covers said one face side of the first substrate by combining the plurality of divided portions.
 5. The liquid crystal display according to claim 1, wherein the first substrate is a plastic substrate or a film substrate. 